A lot depends on what player Parise is. Is he the 80+ point player he was 2 of the last 5 years or is he the 65ish point player he has been the other 3.

I'm not sure what player he is. Don't get me wrong, I would love to see PArise in a canuck uniform but at $7.5 mil cap hit I'm not so sure.

Suter is Suter. An excellent D-man. Still think they made a huge mistake in moving Schultz for Gilbert.

The Wild got better, but keep in mind they were terrible last year and the way I look at things they are still primarily a one line team. Well, until Koivu gets hurt then they are again a team of wingers.

Zamboni Driver wrote:If he cant work out a long term deal in the next 8 months I could see Poile hang onto Weber until next year's trade deadline, and then see where they are and/or what they could get.

This is where the 1-year offer sheet kicks in (as others have mentioned)

Sign Weber to a 1-year $6mil offersheet (with the verbal agreement that he will get extended to whatever it takes to keep him as soon as the NHL allows it)

Nashville has two choices:1. Let him walk for Van's 1,2,3 (which I think is reasonable for a player like Weber)2. Match the 1-year offer and let him become a UFA next year - he can't be traded for 1 year after the offer sheet was matched, so he is guaranteed to become a UFA and Nashville risks losing him for nothing.

I like that plan, although the other risk is it would seem a good bet that one of the changes in the CBA could well be raising the UFA age. Weber and his agent may have an eye on this, and Poile too. Poile might even welcome an offer sheet, get Weber signed for one more year, hope there is a hike in the UFA age, say by two years, and then have more leverage with Weber. That said, if Weber tells Poile I want out, all bets are off, it'll be another Nash situation, except for a better, more proven player.

WHO BOUGHT THE PREDATORS Gaylord Entertainment............. $12.8 million Craig Leipold and family............. $9.6 millionBankloan............................. $40.0 million Metro Government.................. $20.0 million Total purchase price................ $82.4 million

Before the Preds took Weber to arbitration last year he had a few days where he was free to talk to teams. I'm sure a lot of GM's talked to his agent to try and figure out what he wants and may have some sense of what will motivate him. He has always said what motivates him the most is a chance to win. The Preds lost out again this year, the year they tried to show their players they were serious. Now with Suter gone and unless the Preds re-tool somehow I don't like their chances of getting Weber to sign a LTC.

Teams are free to talk to him right now and discuss his future and what he wants. If Weber wants to be a Canuck, or a Flyer, or a HAB, he will have certainly expressed that by now. I'm sure he won't close doors to others teams as he will want to test the market. My point is we are free to talk to him now about his future plans and find out what his thinking is.

MG:Hey Shea, if we trade the sun, the star and the moon for your rights would you sign a LTC similar to the one your pal Suter signed?

Weber: No, I want to test the market.

MG:Hey then can you tell me if you want to be a BC boy and come home? Are we your first choice and would you give us the right to match?

Weber:

Can't promise that Mike. But call me.

OR

Weber: No Nucks are not my first choice but I will listen to whatever you have to say at the time you say it.

Or Weber: yes, YES YES I want to be a Canuck Mike. I promise. If we can't get it done this year wait for me Mike, don't let someone else take my spot OK?

I am sure MG has some sense as to whether Weber is a realistic possibility or not. He may not have a definitive idea but he must have made those calls already.

Parise had 3 more goals than Burrows last season. We know Burrows is underpaid, but 7.5M for 31 goals? Please.

15M tied up in these two guys who have accomplished what? Would rather have both Sedins for 12.2.

Minny now has the #7,8, and 9 highest Cap salaries in hockey. Nice splash.... and folks think Luongo's contract is bad?

You on crack?

Both guys ARE worth it, especially to the Minnesota Wild.

Maybe not to the Canucks but for a floundering franchise like the Wild? This is the equivalent of hitting the god damn jackpot.

- A top 3 forward and a top 2 defenceman- Both US Olympians- Both are coming into the prime of their careers- Both want to join your team because they want to- Both are highly motivated to win- Both are highly marketable and personable- All it took was money. No mortgaging the future or anything.

If you treat both signings as one transaction, this has the potential to make the top 10 list of best UFA signings in the NHL ever. If not top 5.

The next thing the Wild need to do is to rebrand themselves. Get rid of the stupid Christmas colours and get a logo and color combo that looks bad ass. If they do it right, the Wild organization could be a very profitable team with the entire Mid West market to draw upon.

mathonwy wrote:The next thing the Wild need to do is to rebrand themselves. Get rid of the stupid Christmas colours and get a logo and color combo that looks bad ass. If they do it right, the Wild organization could be a very profitable team with the entire Mid West market to draw upon.

I agree. Worst colour combo in the league by far.

This is the only decent jersey they've ever had:

Lose the red and that piss stained looking off white they have on their regular sweaters and get a new logo.